Measurement of Nitric Oxide Formation within a Multi-Fueled Turbine Combustor

Abstract

Factors affecting the nitric oxide (NO) emission level of a regenerative turbine combustor are reviewed. Differences attributable to fuel type are discussed. Temperature and composition measurements obtained with a water-cooled choked sampling probe are presented for a turbine combustor operating on two different fuels: #2 diesel oil and methanol. Methods of averaging the discrete data are developed. Temperature is computed from measurement of the choked sample flow rate. Methanol displays lower NO emission because of decreased high temperature residence duration, lower flame temperature and diminished oxygen and nitrogen availability. It is found that the combustion and NO formation zones occupy a small portion of the regenerative combustor while the CO oxidation zone occupies roughly half of the combustor under investigation. Nitric oxide never reaches equilibrium values, whereas carbon monoxide exceeds equilibrium values throughout most of the combustor.